There are only four rounds of matches left in the league season and Newtown and Bala Town have gone seven points clear of the chasing pack in the race for European qualification.
The New Saints have already been crowned champions and have therefore qualified for Europe, but there’s two more tickets up for grabs, for the league runners-up and the JD Welsh Cup winners (or 3rd placed team if Welsh Cup winners have already qualified).
TOP SIX
Flint Town United (6th) v Bala Town (3rd) | Friday – 19:45
Flint Town United will welcome Bala Town to Cae-y-Castell on Friday night knowing that they must win to keep their European dreams alive.
A defeat, or even a draw would mean that Neil Gibson’s hopes of leading the Silkmen into Europe would be over as the all-important second spot would be out of reach, and third place also realistically unobtainable.
With just one win in their last 10 games, Flint Town United have faltered after such an impressive performance in the first phase of the season.
Bala Town picked up a vital point against The New Saints on Tuesday night and the Lakesiders are level on points with Newtown in the hunt for European football.
Confidence will be high for Colin Caton’s clan as Bala Town have won every one of their six meetings with Flint Town United since their promotion in 2020.
League form:
Flint Town United: ❌❌✅❌❌
Bala Town: ❌✅✅✅➖
Pen-y-bont (4th) v The New Saints (1st) | Saturday – 14:30
Pen-y-bont have lost three consecutive league matches for the first time this season, and regrettably for Rhys Griffiths it seems that his side have ran out of steam at a critical point of the campaign.
If Pen-y-bont were to lose this Saturday, and if both Newtown and Bala Town were to win those matches, then Pen-y-bont would not be able to finish higher than 4th in the table.
The three meetings between these teams this season have been very tightly fought with two of the three games ending in draws – but The New Saints have never lost against Pen-y-bont (won eight, drawn two).
The clubs will go head-to-head once again in three weeks’ time in the JD Welsh Cup final, which could possibly be Pen-y-bont’s best chance to qualify for Europe.
League form:
Pen-y-bont: ➖✅❌❌❌
The New Saints: ✅➖❌✅➖
Newtown (2nd) v Caernarfon Town (5th) | Saturday – 14:30
After winning four of their last five games Newtown have climbed up to 2nd place, and following their play-off success last summer, the Robins are hungry for another taste of European football.
Caernarfon Town gave Flint Town United a 4-0 thrashing on Tuesday night to keep the European ambitions alive for Huw Griffiths and the Cofis.
But the mid-Wales Robins have won their last five matches against the Canaries, and Chris Hughes will be determined to lead Newtown into Europe for the third time since his appointment in 2013.
League form:
Newtown: ✅❌✅✅✅
Caernarfon Town: ❌✅❌❌✅
BOTTOM SIX
Cefn Druids (12th) v Haverfordwest County (8th) | Saturday – 14:30
Haverfordwest County seemed to be sailing smoothly to safety, but after three games without a win the Bluebirds are now just two points above the relegation zone.
Cefn Druids have just six points to their name this season and are in danger of breaking their own record as one of the worst teams to ever play in the JD Cymru Premier.
Afan Lido has the worst record since the 12-team format was introduced (15 points from 32 games in 2013/14), but the lowest tally in the history of the league is nine points from Cemaes Bay in 1997/98 (38 games) and Cefn Druids in 2009/10 (34 games).
Haverfordwest County have won their last four meetings with Cefn Druids which includes an emphatic 6-1 victory at Bridge Meadow less than a month ago.
League form:
Cefn Druids: ❌❌✅❌❌
Haverfordwest County: ✅✅➖❌❌
Cardiff Met (7th) v Aberystwyth Town (9th) | Saturday – 14:30
Aberystwyth Town claimed a priceless three points away at Haverfordwest County on Tuesday night to keep the Black & Greens two points above Barry Town United and Connah’s Quay in the battle for survival.
Cardiff Met were looking comfortable in 7th spot, but with only four games left to play the Archers will be peering over their shoulders wishing to enhance the five-point gap between themselves and the drop zone.
Aberystwyth Town have won just one of their last nine meetings with Cardiff Met, which happened to be on their last visit to Cyncoed Campus back in November (Met 0-1 Aber).
League form:
Cardiff Met: ✅➖❌✅❌
Aberystwyth Town: ❌❌✅❌✅
Barry Town United (11th) v Connah’s Quay (10th) | Saturday – 17:15
This one promises to be one of the most significant games of the season as the two teams who are level on points battle for their survival in the JD Cymru Premier.
Barry Town United returned to the top-flight in 2017 after a 13-year absence, and Gavin Chesterfield’s squad have twice gone on to represent Wales in Europe since their return, but the Dragons are in real danger of getting relegated this season.
Connah’s Quay won back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021, but after an 18-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player, the Nomads could well be on their way out of the league
Barry Town United have won two of their three meetings with Connah’s Quay this season, but since the Nomads’ last defeat against the Dragons, Craig Harrison’s men have gone eight league games without defeat, without conceding a single goal (won six, drawn two).
League form:
Barry Town United: ❌➖❌✅✅
Connah’s Quay: ✅✅➖✅✅
Hhighlights will be available on Sgorio’s online accounts.
